The estimated resident population of South Australia at 30 June 2002 was 1,520,000, an increase of 8,500 since 2001. In 2002 South Australia's population was 7.7%of the Australian total.

In 2002 almost three quarters (73.3%) of the state's population resided in the Adelaide Statistical Division (SD), a proportion virtually unchanged since 2001.Outer Adelaide was the fastest growing SD in the state with an increase of 2.0% (2,300 persons) from 2001 to 2002.Only Northern SD experienced a decline in estimated resident population (-700 persons) over the same time period. The following analysis excludes unincorporated areas.

MEDIAN AGE

The median age, the age at which half the population is older and half is younger, increased in South Australia between 2001 and 2002, from 37.6 years to 37.9 years. In the same time, the median age of the Australian population increased from 35.7 years to 35.9 years. South Australia's median age continues to be the highest of all states and territories of Australia.

Amongst the SDs in South Australia, the highest median age was recorded by Yorke and Lower North (43.1 years). The SD with the lowest median age was Northern (36.2 years).

In 2002 South Australia had the lowest proportion of children aged 0-14 years (19.1%) of all states and territories. Nationally 20.3% of the population was in this age group. In South Australia the total number of children has fallen from 291,700 persons in 2001 to 289,600 in 2002, a decrease of 0.7%.

The SD with the highest proportion of its population aged under 15 in 2002 was Eyre (22.7%) and the lowest was Adelaide (18.2%). All South Australian SDs apart from Outer Adelaide experienced a decline in the number of children from 2001 to 2002. The Northern SD had the largest percentage fall of 2.5% (-450 persons), while the largest numeric decrease was in Adelaide SD with 1,200 persons (-0.6%).

With 6.3% of its population aged under 15 years, the SLA of Adelaide (C) had the smallest percentage of children. This was followed by: Holdfast Bay (C) - North (12.0%), Norwood, Payneham and St Peters (C) - West and Holdfast Bay (C) - South (both with 13.1%). The largest proportions of children were recorded in the SLAs of Roxby Downs (M) (30.7%), Playford (C) - West Central (27.9%), and Elliston (DC) (27.1%).

PERSONS AGED 15-44 YEARS

In 2002 the proportion of persons aged 15-44 years in South Australia was 41.9%, a figure marginally lower than that for total Australia (43.7%). In South Australia the total number of persons in this age group (636,400) has remained steady between 2001 and 2002. Nationally there was an increase of 1.0% over this period.

The SD with the highest proportion of persons aged 15-44 was Adelaide (42.9%) while the lowest was Yorke and Lower North (33.3%).From 2001 to 2002 Outer Adelaide SD recorded the highest increase of 1.4% (600 persons) in this age group, while the largest decrease was in Northern SD (-1.8% or -600 persons).

SLAs with the lowest proportion of their population aged 15-44 were Victor Harbor (DC) (28.2%), Yorke Peninsula (DC) - South (29.1%), Yorke Peninsula (DC) - North (30.1%) and Orroroo/Carrieton (DC) (31.3%). The SLAs with the highest proportion of their population in this age group were Adelaide (C) (56.5%), Roxby Downs (M) (55.6%), Salisbury (C) Bal (50.7%) and West Torrens (C) - East (49.0%).

PERSONS AGED 45-64 YEARS

The percentage of South Australia's population aged 45-64 years in 2002 was 24.3%, marginally higher than the national figure (23.4%). In South Australia the total number of persons in this age group rose from 362,700 persons in 2001 to 369,900 in 2002, an increase of 2.0%. Nationally there was an increase of 2.6%.

The SD with the highest proportion in this age group was Yorke and Lower North (27.7%), and the lowest proportion was in South East (23.8%). Outer Adelaide SD had the greatest percentage increase of 3.9% (1,100 persons) from 2001 to 2002. All other SDs experienced an increase ranging from 0.4% in Northern to 2.2% in Eyre.

In 2002 the proportion of the South Australian population aged 65 years and over was the highest amongst all states and territories at 14.8% (224,300 persons). The national proportion was 12.7%. In South Australia the total number of persons in this age group increased by 3,300 from 2001 to 2002, an increase of 1.5%.

The SD with the highest proportion of its population aged 65 years and over was Yorke and Lower North (19.6%), followed by Adelaide (14.9%). The lowest proportion was in Northern SD (12.8%). From 2001 to 2002 the SD with the fastest increase of population aged 65 years and over was Outer Adelaide, a 3.4% increase and more than double the rate for the remainder of the state.

The SLA with the smallest proportion of persons aged 65 years and over was Roxby Downs (M) (0.7%). Of the SLAs in Adelaide SD, Salisbury (C) - Inner North (5.7%), Salisbury (C) Bal (6.1%), Tea Tree Gully (C) - North (6.3%) and Playford (C) - Hills (6.5%) had the smallest share of their population aged 65 years and over. South Australian SLAs with the highest proportion of population aged 65 and over were Victor Harbor (C) (30.6%), Holdfast Bay (C) - South (24.4%), Holdfast Bay (C) - North (24.1%) followed by Yorke Peninsula (DC) - South and Marion (C) - North (both with 22.9%).

PERSONS AGED 85 YEARS AND OVER

In 2002 South Australia had the highest proportion of people aged 85 years and over for any state or territory, at 1.8% of the total state population. Nationally this proportion was 1.4%. In South Australia the number of people in this age group rose from 25,400 persons in 2001 to 26,700 in 2002, an increase of 5.5%. The growth in this age group is in part due to increased life expectancy of both men and women.

The SD with the largest proportion of its population aged 85 years and over was Yorke and Lower North (2.1%) while the lowest was Northern (1.3%). From 2001 to 2002 the SDs with the largest increase in population aged 85 years and over were Northern (8.9%), Murray Lands (7.9%) and Outer Adelaide (7.5%). The smallest increase was recorded in Eyre SD (1.2%).

The SLAs of Holdfast Bay (C) - North (4.8%), Norwood, Payneham and St Peters (C) - East (4.2%), Walkerville (M) and Holdfast Bay (C) - South (both with 3.7%) had the highest proportion of their population aged 85 years and over in 2002. The SLAs with the lowest proportion of their population in this age group were Roxby Downs (M) (0.1%), Tea Tree Gully (C) - North (0.2%) followed by Salisbury (C) Bal and Playford (C) - Hills (both with 0.3%).

SEX RATIO

In June 2002 females outnumbered males in South Australia by 16,700. With 751,800 males and 768,500 females at June 2002, the state's sex ratio (number of males per 100 females) was 97.8. The sex ratio for South Australia was below that of total Australia (98.4).

Despite females outnumbering males across the state, males outnumber females in all SDs except Adelaide and Outer Adelaide. Sex ratios across SDs ranged from a low of 96.0 in Adelaide to 105.8 in Northern.

In South Australia the number of females aged 65 years and over (126,400) was almost 30% higher than the number of males in this age group (97,900) in 2002. Considering persons aged 85 years and over, there were more than twice as many females (18,500) as males (8,300). The lower sex ratios for the more elderly age groups reflects the greater life expectancy of women.